UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS FALL CLASS OF 2020 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DEC. 15, 2020 UNLV ADMINISTRATION Keith E. Whitfield, President Christopher L. Heavey, Executive Vice President and Provost Vince Alberta, Vice President of Brand Integration and Chief Marketing Officer Bo Bernhard, Associate Vice President for Economic Development Robert Correales, Interim Vice President for University Compliance Juanita Fain, Vice President for Student Affairs Adam Garcia, Vice President for Public Safety Services Kyle Kaalberg, Executive Director for Strategy and Strategic Initiatives Rickey N. McCurry, Vice President for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement Sabra Smith Newby, Vice President of Government and Community Affairs Barbee Oakes, Chief Diversity Officer Lori Olafson, Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Desiree Reed-Francois, Director of Athletics Elda Luna Sidhu, General Counsel Ericka Smith, Vice President of Human Resources Fred Tredup, Chief of Staff Jean Vock, Senior Vice President for Business Affairs/CFO Victor Wei, Senior Advisor to the President - Strategy and Partnerships DEANS Angela Amar, Nursing Marc J. Kahn, School of Medicine Ronald Brown, School of Integrated Health Sciences Jennifer Keene, College of Liberal Arts Eric Chronister, College of Sciences Kate Korgan, Graduate College Maggie Farrell, University Libraries Ann McDonough, Academic Success Center Lily T. Garcia, School of Dental Medicine Stowe Shoemaker, William F. Harrah College of Hospitality Shawn Gerstenberger, School of Public Health Paulette Tandy, Interim, Lee Business School Daniel Hamilton, William S. Boyd School of Law Robert Ulmer, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Andrew Hanson, Honors College Nancy Uscher, College of Fine Arts Danica G. Hays, Interim, College of Education Rama Venkat, Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION Melody Rose, Chancellor Crystal Abba, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Michael Flores, Chief of Staff Nate Mackinnon, Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges Andrew Clinger, Chief Financial Officer Joe Reynolds, Chief General Counsel BOARD OF REGENTS Mark W. Doubrava, Chair Cathy McAdoo Carol Del Carlo, Vice Chair Donald Sylvantee McMichael Sr. Patrick R. Carter John T. Moran Amy J. Carvalho Kevin J. Page Jason Geddes Laura E. Perkins Trevor Hayes Rick Trachok Lisa C. Levine Dean J. Gould, Chief of Staff and Special Counsel to the Board This is the official program for the May 2020 Commencement at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It includes the names of students who have applied to graduate. Please note that participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee degree conferral. Degrees are conferred (granted) only when all requirements have been met and the final grades for a student’s final semester have been computed. Degrees are conferred and diplomas mailed during a 10-week period following the end of each semester. Listings are as of December 1, 2020. Program WELCOME Ryan Romero ’17, ’20 Cassie Soto ’17 OPENING REMARKS President Keith E. Whitfield PRESENTATION OF COLORS UNLV Air Force & Army ROTC Honor Guards NATIONAL ANTHEM The Star-Spangled Banner Olivera Gjorgoska, Soprano Accompanied by David Loeb, Piano UNLV ALMA MATER UNLV Choral Ensembles and Wind Orchestra Music by Eric Whitacre, Lyrics by Thomas Leslie and Robyn Lemon Chapman David Weiller and Thomas Leslie, Music Directors PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President Whitfield GREETINGS Board of Regents, Chair Mark W. Doubrava Chancellor Melody Rose CONFERRING OF HONORARY DEGREE President Whitfield Sam Lieberman (posthumously) RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING GRADUATES President Whitfield STUDENT COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Lili K. Equihua CLASS PROFILE Ryan Romero and Cassie Soto CONFERRING OF DEGREES President Whitfield, Provost Chris L. Heavey and Deans TURNING OF THE TASSELS President Whitfield and Provost Heavey WELCOME UNLV ALUMNI Stacey Purcell ’90 CONCLUDING REMARKS President Whitfield, Ryan Romero and Cassie Soto 2020 Fall Commencement 3 Academic Traditions And Special Honors A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS Since its first classes were held in the 1950s, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has undergone an amazing transformation, from a dusty outpost on the south edge of town to a thriving urban research institution. Along the way, thanks to its innovative frontier spirit, UNLV has kept pace with one of the country’s fastest-growing and most enterprising cities. The university’s origins were humble. In 1951, when the post-war boom had swollen the Las Vegas valley’s population to more than 50,000, the University of Nevada, Reno established an extension program here. Twenty-eight students began meeting for classes in the dressing rooms of Las Vegas High School’s auditorium. In 1954, the Nevada Board of Regents founded the Southern Regional Division of the University of Nevada, popularly known as Nevada Southern. Twenty-nine students accepted degrees at the university’s first commencement in 1964. In 1969, with the Board of Regents’ approval, the university adopted its current name, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. By the following year, as the Las Vegas’ metropolitan population reached 275,000, UNLV enrolled more than 5,500 students. Over the next several decades, UNLV continued this heady rate of development — erecting more than 100 buildings, developing dozens of graduate programs, creating partnerships with the community, fielding nationally ranked sports teams, founding an alumni association, promoting scholarship, establishing a fundraising foundation, and recruiting diverse and talented students from across the country. UNLV has come a long way from the high school dressing rooms that once served as its classrooms. Thanks to the dedication of faculty and staff members, students, generous donors, and Las Vegas residents, the university has much to celebrate, especially at Commencement. ACADEMIC DRESS The academic caps, gowns, and hoods that make the procession so colorful are part of an 800-year tradition. Academic clothing was first worn in medieval universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Paris, and Bologna. The gowns and hoods served a practical purpose in the days of unheated classrooms. The European custom was carried to America with the establishment of our own colleges and universities. In 1895 an academic code of dress was adopted, and the standards of a robe, hood, and cap were accepted by most of the colleges and universities in the United States. Different types of gowns may be distinguished in the academic procession. The bachelors’ gowns have long, pointed sleeves; the masters’ gowns have oblong sleeves with an arc cut away in the front. The doctors’ gowns are faced with velvet and have bell-shaped sleeves with three bars of velvet. The Oxford cap, the so-called mortarboard, has a long tassel fastened to the middle of the top that is worn hanging over the right front of the cap. Upon graduation, the tassel is moved from right to left. The hood, draped from the shoulder, denotes by its length and colors the field of study and the institution that conferred the degree. UNIVERSITY MACE The University Mace, which has its traditions deeply rooted in history, is carried on ceremonial occasions at the head of the academic procession by the Grand Marshal, whose symbolic duty is the protection of the university, its persons, and its processes. The mace, a long club with a ball of iron, steel, or brass at one end, was used in warfare as late as the sixteenth century. The use of the mace as an instrument of ceremony, however, began about the year 1250 in England and France. The mace is still used widely today in university ceremonies like commencements and inaugurations. The UNLV Mace, cast by UNLV art professor emeritus Michael McCollum in 1970, was created using the lost wax process. Erik Gronborg’s design for the cubical head of the mace included facets depicting the university seal, a rendering of the Statue of Liberty, a likeness of Renaissance scholar Leonardo da Vinci, and a shelf of books flanked by artists’ brushes. DISTINGUISHED NEVADAN AWARD The Distinguished Nevadan Award is conferred by the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education to recognize prominent individuals who are present or former residents of the State of Nevada. The award is presented for significant achievements that contribute to the cultural, economic, scientific, or social advancement of Nevada and its people and for exceptional service to the state or nation that has influenced constructively the well-being of society. The recipient receives an engraved medallion and a special certificate. 4 2020 Fall Commencement PRESIDENT’S MEDAL The President’s Medal was first conferred in 1996 on Governor Kenny Guinn. The recipients are selected by the university president to recognize individuals who have provided very special and distinguished service to the university. An engraved medallion and special certificate are presented to each honoree. DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR AWARD Several years ago the university approved a process for selecting an exceptional faculty member to hold the title of Distinguished Professor. This award is given only after very serious consideration of a highly select group of university faculty. Nominees must have demonstrated extraordinary qualities both as teachers and scholars and must have achieved national and international recognition in their fields of study. OUTSTANDING GRADUATES UNLV has a long-standing tradition of honoring graduating